Fuse box



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A. F. EUCHENHOFER vFUSE Box 5 Shees-Sheet 3 Filed OC.. 2l. 1920 S14/vanto@ F. wwf/worm',

Panarea May 15, i928.

UNITED STATES `.AIDOII'JPH F. EUCHENHOFEB, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

FUSE :Box

Application led October 21, 1920. Serial No.418,548,

This invention relates to fuse boxes and the like, such as are more commonly used in connection with electrical installations.

In electrical installations it is customary to interpose between the meter and the service line, or source of supply, fuses and a switch to control the flow of current to the installation. The fuses are usually mounted in a box but as a matter of convenience the lccustomer has access to the box Jfor the purpose of removing or inserting the fuses. Unscrupulous persons will sometimes take advantage of the accessibility of the fuse and ofthe switch to make temporary conneci tions between the fuses and the installation beyond the meter to lead the current about the meter.k This is commonly done by attaching a wire to a fuse or substituting an ordinary electric plug for the fuse plug and leading the wires therefrom to some convenient part of the installation beyond the meter, this device comprising what is commonly knownas a jumper and serving to divert all or a. large part of the current past the meter. The device is readily removable and care is taken to see that it is removed before the meter reader, or other inspector, makes his rounds' and, consequently, it is exceedingly diicult to detect the use of such a device. It has been proposed to prevent the use of such a jumper by sealing, or locking the fuse box, but this is seriously objectionable because whenever it is necessary to renew a fuse which may have blown out lor to cut ed the current, tor any reason whatsoever, it is necessary for the company supplying the current to send their representative to render the necessary service, whereas, if the customer had accessto the fuse box he could readily take care of the matter himself. The practise has grown to such anv extent that it results in very serious losses to the companies supplying the current.

The object ot the present invention is to provide a. fuse box which will effectively prevent the use ot a jumper, or other similar device, without rendering the fuse box inaccessible to the customer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse box in which the fuses are accessible only when the switch is open, and in which the switch cannotbe closed when a wire, or other conductor, connected with the fuse or .fuse receptacle leads to the exterior of the fuse box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse box of this kind which will be absolutely fire proof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse box which may be arranged in different positions with relation to the meter to accomodate the same to different installations.

.A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse box oi this kind which will be simple in construction and operation and of such a character that the operative parts thereof will not easily get out of order.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a meter box embodying my invention, partly broken away, with the cover removed, showing the same alongside of. a meter; Fig. 2 is a. plan view of a fuse box embodying my invention with the front wall partly broken away, showing the same in line with the meter; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the fuse box showing the closure therefor in its open position; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view ofY one end o the fuse box showing the closure therefor in a partly closed position; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail viewI of that end of the fuse box which is remote from the fuse receptacles; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the last mentioned end of the fuse box; Fi 8 is l'a sectional view taken through the ise supporting structure; Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one end of the housing which connects the fuse box with the meter; and Fig. 10 is a detail viewfot` the closure for the conduit openings which are not in use.

' In these drawings l have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as comprising a main receptacle, or casing, which consists of a back wall l, side :walls 2, end walls 3 and 4, and a cover, or front wall 5. The casing is adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting structure, such as the vertical wall of a house by fastening devices extending through the back wall 1 thereof, which fastening devices may be of any suitable character. ln the present instance, one end of the casing, which in the arrangement shown in the present drawings, is the lower end thereof, is of greater depth than the upper portion thereof to better accommodate the same to the particular arrangement o mechanism here shown. The lower end wall 3 has formed therein an openlli) ing 6 and movably-mounted within thecas- .ing is a fuse supporting structure 7, which is movable toward and from the opening 6 to enable the same to be moved from its no rmal or retracted position into a position in which the fuses willbe readily accessible through the opening 6 for removal or renewal. The fuse supporting structuremay be actuated in any suitable manner but I prefer to control its movements by means of a closure, or door, 8, which serves to tightly close the opening 6. The door may be of any suitable character. In the present instance, it consists of a plate of a length substantially equal to the width of the casing and is pivotally mounted on the side walls `of the ,casing by means of pivot lugs 9, rigidly secured thereto, and in the present instance formed from a single piece of metal with the closure. This closure is so mounted that it will fit tightly against the lower end wall of the casing when the closure is in its closed position, but in order to more tightly close the opening and to more effectively prevent the possibility of a conductor being led from the interior of the casing to the exterior f thereof, I have provided the casing with inwardly extending flanges 10 which are so arranged on the closure 8 that they will enter the opening 6 and tit snugly within the same. The width of these flanges and their arrangement on the closure 8 is such that as they enter the opening 6 their edges will just clear the edges of the opening. Consequently, if a wire, or other conductor, extends through the opening 6 the closure 8 can not be moved to its fully closed position. TheA fuse supporting structure may take various forms andmay becontrolled by the closure 8 in any suitable manner. As here shown, it comprises a block of insulating material, as shown at 7, havingformed therein two fuse receptacles 11, although any 1 suitable number of fuse receptacles may be provided. The fuse receptacles themselves may be of any suitable character but in the .present instance I have provided fuse sockets adapted to receive the ordinary plug fuses and the fuse supporting structure is so arranged that when moved to its osition adjacent to the closure 6 the en of .the fuse plugs will extend beyond the end wall 3 of the casing so that they may be very easily grasped and removed from the receptacles. Preferably the structure 'Z'l is pivotally mounted within the casing and, as here shown, it is directly connected with the closure 8 for the openln 6. rI`he connection, as here shown, consists of an arm 12 rigidly secured to the supporting structure 7 and, in the present instance, mounted thereon between the two fuse receptacles, and this arm is connected by means of a pivoted link 13 with the closure 8, so that the movement of the closure into its vbe broken.

closed position will force the fuses back into the casing and the movement of the closure to its open position will move the fuses into positions adjacent vto or extending through the opening 6.

It is, of course, desirable that means should be provided for interrupting the circuit through the fuses when the closure is in its open position and, in the present instance, I have provided a switch which is controlled by the movement of the fuse supporting structure. The switch may be of any suitable character, but, in the forni shown, I have employed a switch of the type known as'a knife switch and have shown the fixed contact members, or fingers, 14 as rigidly mounted on a base block 15 of insulating material, which is secured to the back wall 1 of the main casing, and as connected with the conductors 16 leading from the external line, or source of supply of' electric current. The movable switch meinbers, which are shown at 17, are connected with, and are preferably carried by, the fuse supporting structure 7 and, as shown in Fig. 8, they are rigidly secured to that structure and connected by suitable conductors 18 with the respective fuse receptacles. The fuse receptacles are connected with the meter through the hinged connection of the fuse supporting structure 7 and, as here shown, this connection comprises cured to the structure 7 an` electrically connected with the fuse, and other lugs 20 rigidly secured to the insulating base 15 and pivotally connected with the receptacle lugs 19. The fixed pivot lugs 20 are connected by suitable conductors, which, in the present instance, are mounted in channels in the insulating base 15, with terminals 2l with which are connected the conductors 22 which lead to the meter. The movable and fixed contact members of the switch are so arranged with relation one to the other that when the fuse supporting structure. is moved to its rearmost position by the complete closing of the closure 8 the movable contactswill be moved into 4'Contact with the fixed contacts, but when the fuse,supportingstructure is. in a.

.position adjacent to the opening 6 the contact members will be out of engagement and the circuit through the fuse receptacle will rlhe arrangement of the respective switch contact members with relation one-to the other is such that they will not come into engagement until the flange 10 carried by the closure 8 has entered the opening 6, see Fig. 5. Consequently, the switch can not be closed unless the closure has been moved to such a position as to completely close the opening 6.

The casing may be arranged in different positions with relation to the meter, which' is shown at 23. As shown in Fig. 1-the casing is arranged alongside of the meter ivot lugs 19 seand 'as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the meter is in longitudinal alinement with the casing. To enable the same fuse box to be arranged in different positions with relation to the meter, I have shown the upper end wall 4 ot the l'use box as removable and have provided the upper end of the fuse box with an opening adapted to embrace that portion of the meter, shown at 24, in which are formed the inlet and outlet conduits for the conductors. The removable Iend wall 4 of the housing is provided at its front and rear edges with flanges and 26- adapted to Aenter the use box. The side walls of the fuse box are provided at opposite sides of the opening in the upper end thereof with inturned langes 27 which are spaced from the back wall 1 toform slots 28. The rear flange 26 extends for substantially the full length of the end plate and'is adapted to enter these slots, the flange being preferably tapered, as shown in Fig. 1. Near its inner edge the flange 26 has an opening 29 adaptedto embrace a stud 30, rigidly secured to the'.v back plate 1 of the casing. By inserting; the flange 26 of the end wall 14 in uhe slots' 28, tilting the sameto the position shown lin Fig. 6 and then moving it into an upright position, the opening 29 will be-caused to` embrace the fixed stud 30 and so long as the end wall is in its normal position it will be held rigidly against movement. The end Wall is held in its normal position by the front plate 5 of the casing. As here shown, this front plate is provided at its lower end with hook shaped portions which extend through openings in the lower end wall of the casing, and is provided at its other end with an aperture adapted to embrace a stud 32 rigidly secured to the front flange 25 of the removable end plate 4, and to thus secure the end plate in its normal position. A

nut, or other locking device, is applied to thc stud 32 to retain the closure thereon and the connection is preferably sealed to prevent the front lclosure from being removed and replaced without detection. The upper end wall is provided with an opening to receive a conduit 33, through which the conductors 1G may' be lled into the casing. llVhen the fuse box is arranged alongside of the meter, as shown in Fig. 1, I prefer to lead the conductors 22 from the fuse box to the meter through a tightly closed housing, as shown at 34. As here shown, the housing 34 is rectan ular in cross section and is tightly close on the four sides with the exception of an opening at one end adapted to embrace the openings through which the conductors are led into the'meter. At that end adjacent to the fuse box the housing has the back Wall of the casing. The front wall of the casing 34'has a` lip 37 to enter an opening in the side ywall of the casing. lVhen the lips 36 and 3T have been properly positioned in the main casing the opposite end of the housing 34 is caused to embrace the inlet openings for the meter. '.lhis portion of the `housing is preferably provided with a lange 38 overlapping the edge of the portion 24 ofthe meter and having an opening to receive a stud 39 carried by said portion ot said meter. A nut, or other astenf ing device, as shown at 40, is applied to the stud 39 to secure the housing iirmly thereto and to thus hold the housing lirmly against movement relatively either to the meter or to the main casing ot the fuse box. Flhe Stud 39 and its fastening device are pret'- erably secured to prevent the parts from being separated without detection.

When the fuse box is to be placed in longitudinal alinement with the meter, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the end wall 4 is omitted and the front and rear walls 5 and 1 of the fuse box are slipped over and in the rear of the part 24 of the meter, as shown in Fig.

3. Nhen in this position the opening in the front wall which cooperates with the stud 32 on the upper end Wall 4- Will embrace a stud 39 on the part 24 of the meter and the front wall of the fuse box may thus be irmly secured to and sealed to the meter. Usually the fuse box will be rst placed in position and the meter afterwards applied thereto, but this is not essential in the assemblingot the device. The stud 30, which forms art of the fastening device for the end wa 4, serves in this second arrangement of the fuse box as a stop to limit the movement of the meter relatively to the fuse box Vand properly position the parts relatively one to the other. The fuse bo'x is provided in its side walls and end wall with openings suilicient in number and so arranged as to permit the fuse box to be installed in either position and those openings rwhich are not used are closed by caps, or disk-like closures 41, which prevents entrancey being had to the casing through the same. e

It will beapparent from the foregoing description that I have provideda fuse box which is simple in its construction and opel ation and with which it is impossible to lead a wire, or other conductor, from a fuse or fuse receptacle to the exterior of the box when the switch is closed, and, further, that the fuse receptacles are movably mounted so that they can be brought into a osition close to the opening in the end wal of the casing to facilitate the insertion or removal of the fuses. Further, the fuse box is of such a' construction that it can be connected with the 'meter in dierent positions, thus enabling any fuse box of this type to be used on any one of different installations requiring different ar `angements of the fuse box.

lWhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my inventio what I claim as-new and desire y.to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In afuse box, the combination With a casing comprising a single compartment having an opening in the wall thereof, and

a movable closure for said opening ar-' prising Contact members carried respectively by said casing and said movable structure, and said closure having inwardly extending parts so arranged that they will enter said opening in the wall of said casing in close proximity to the edges thereof before said structure is moved to va position to close said switch. i I

2. In a lfuse box, a casing having end and side walls, one of said walls having an opening, a closure for said opening arranged exteriorly of said casing, a structure arranged within said casing, said closure and said structure being pivoted on separate pivots, said structure being movable into and out of a position within said casing adjacent to that Wall of saidcasing which is provided with said opening and having means for supporting a fuse in sueh'a position that it will project through said opening when said structure is in a posi-tion within said casing adjacent to said wall, and a connection between said structure and said closure to cause the structure to be moved into said position when said closure is moved to its open position.

3. In a fuse box, a casing having an opening in one of the end Walls thereof, a closure for said opening arranged exteriorly of said casing'` a structure arranged within said easing, sai closure and said structure being pivoted on separate pivots, said closure being movable into position adjacent to the back Wall of said casing or into a position adjacent to theopening in said end'wall, a switch arranged within said casing and comprising a Contact member mounted on said back Wall, and asecond contact member carried by-said structure and arranged to engagethe first mentioned Contact member when said structure is in the first mentioned position, said structure having means for supporting a fuse in such a position that it will project through said opening when said structure is in the last mentioned position, and a connection betweensaid structure and said closure to cause said structure to be moved to its last mentioned position when said closure is moved to its open position.

4. A fuse box comprising 'a casing having an opening in one of its walls to provide access to the fuse, a closure for said opening, said casing having an opening in another wall thereofl and having` adjacent to the last mentioned opening means adapted either to secure a closure for said opening thereto or to` position said fuse box with relation to a meter. X

5. In a fuse box comprising a casing having openings in two of its walls, a closurel for one of vsaid openings, a fuse supporting structure movably mounted within said casing adjacent to said opening, a switchy mounted within said casing, said fuse supporting structure and said switch being controlled by the movement of said closure, said` closure having means to completely close said opening before said switch is closed, said fuse box having near the other of said openings a stud projecting inwardly from one wall thereof, and a removable closure for the last mentioned opening having a part to embrace said stud and having means for retaining said part in' engagement with said stud.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

ADOLPH F. EUCHENHOFER. 

